Csikszentmihalyi originally became interested in the complete absorption of painters while at work; they’d go hours without eating or resting. As the human brain processes roughly 120 bits of information per second, he realized their full attention was focused on a single Task.

Using fMRI machines, researchers learned that Flow is a subjective experience—the same neurological patterns emerge in every subject. They had previously assumed the prefrontal cortex (PFC) processes Flow.  This brain region is responsible for complex cognitive abilities, such as planning ahead, evaluating rewards and time, suppressing urges, making moral decisions, learning from experience, and having a sense of self.  Yet the PFC actually shuts down during Flow, which is the reason it feels instinctual and automatic.

Flow is the result of the synchronization of attentional and reward networks in the brain.  A balance of challenge and skill is required.

Researchers can artificially induce Flow States in several ways. One is through the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to turn off the PFC, which has been shown to help people perform and learn more efficiently.  In one study on military training, DARPA found that snipers were also able to remain focused under highly stressful conditions during Flow.

Besides a greater sense of focus, people that experience Flow often overcome challenges in the way of achieving their goals, raising their overall sense of life satisfaction.  People in Flow attribute this state for helping them be more creative and feel more competent.